servicios sociales
/seɾbiθjos soθjales/from spelling rules
In Spanish, social services is translated as servicios sociales.
Meaning: program (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
This is a literal translation of the English phrase. The word servicios means 'services' and sociales means 'social'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, you might hear Asistencia Social to refer to social services.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective sociales is the plural form of social and is used here to agree with the plural noun servicios.
How do you pronounce it?
/seɾbiθjos soθjales/
Did you know?
- In certain legal contexts in Latin America, servicios sociales can refer specifically to community service performed as a judicial penalty rather than welfare programs.
- In Spain, the term trabajador social is often used as a shorthand for the entire system of servicios sociales when discussing the actual process of getting help.
- In the context of government departments, you will often see the term Bienestar Social used to describe the Ministry or Department of Social Welfare.
Examples in context
- Tuvimos que llamar a los servicios sociales. Este obviamente era un caso de abandono de menores.We had to call in social services. This was obviously a case of child neglect.This sentence illustrates a situation where one might need to call servicios sociales due to child neglect.Tatoeba #1294024 by marcelostockle, translation #1293845 by PeterR
- Los servicios sociales ofrecen ayuda a familias vulnerables.Social services offer help to vulnerable families.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing how to help a homeless neighbor.
- LucíaDeberíamos contactar a los servicios sociales.We should contact social services.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Lucía. Es la mejor opción.You are right, Lucía. It is the best option.
- Lucía¿Sabes dónde está la oficina de servicios sociales?Do you know where the social services office is?
- AlejandroNo, pero puedo buscar la dirección ahora.No, but I can look for the address now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
